Special Diet & Daycare

I found out my DD most likely has Celiac based on a very high scoring blood test and have to switch her diet to gluten free.

She goes to daycare full time and they provide all of her meals (breakfast, lunch, snacks).
I just wanted to see if anyone had experience with a child on a special diet in daycare. Did you have to send in all of their food? If so did your child's daycare give you a discounted rate if food was already included in your tuition?

Special Diet & Daycare

My oldest was in daycare until he was 3. He has no medical reasons to not eat certain foods, but there were certain menu items I knew he wouldn't like, or I didn't want him eating. Those days I would send in a lunchbox with his food. They never had an issue with it, but they did not discount tuition. They may have if it was a true medical reason though.

Re: Special Diet & Daycare

I sent in every meal, but I was dealing with multiple food issues caused by different autoimmune disease. Maybe you can check and see if there's some snacks she can have that daycare provides.

I did not receive a discount, but it certainly does not hurt to ask. They told me food was included in tuition, not an additional charge, therefor no discount for not partaking.

It's annoying, but I had no other option.

Message edited 4/13/2018 6:26:50 PM.

Re: Special Diet & Daycare

I have always had to send in all of her food due to food allergies. I never received a discount on tuition.

Message edited 4/13/2018 6:35:10 PM.

Re: Special Diet & Daycare

My dd had a milk allergy and we had to send our own food until she grew out of it. We did not get any discount.

Re: Special Diet & Daycare

Re: Special Diet & Daycare

I feel your pain. My daughter was 5 and in kindergarten when she was diagnosed with celiac and I remember thinking thank GOD my son (3 at the time) tested negative because I can't imagine celiac in the preschool environment. He was only in pre-school part-time but they had a snack there and I would have had to provide it for him but I would have been so worried about all of the crumbs kids were producing knowing how messy kids are.

I would most definitely provide the meals, classrooms are so hectic for those teachers I wouldn't trust that the food would be made/handled properly for my little one. I'd also start having a chat with your child about not touching other people's food, that they shouldn't touch her food, etc. Celiac SUCKS, I'm so sorry... but it can be very manageable once you get the hang of it.